US4853706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transparency with jetted color ink and method of making same
Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc
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Filing: 1987-09-17
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Granted: 1989-08-01
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Expires: 2007-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A method of making a color transparency with jetted color ink jet apparatus includes the steps of heating hot melt ink including an ink vehicle and a substantially translucent dye to a temperature above the melting point to attain the liquid state, ejecting small volumes of the hot melt ink from the ink jet apparatus toward a substantially transparent resinous support, cooling the small volumes of ink on the support so as to attain the solid state, and flattening the small volumes on the support to produce a substantially planar surface which minimizes refraction and scattering of light projected thereon or therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Hugh Van Brimer
- 👤 Donald Allred
- 👤 Theodore M. Cooke
- 👤 An C. R. Lin
- 👤 Julia E. Rubbo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:10
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/0041; B41M5/0047; B41M5/0064; B41M7/00; B41M7/0027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A process for creating a color transparency using an ink jet apparatus comprising the following steps: heating hot melt ink comprising an ink vehicle and a substantially translucent dye to a temperature above the melting point of said hot melt ink; ejecting small volumes of said hot melt ink from the ink jet apparatus toward a substantially transparent support, each said volume including a first substantially planar surface at its interface with said support, and a second surface opposed to said first surface extending outwardly from said support; cooling the small volumes to the solid state on the support; spreading and flattening said second surface of each of the small volumes on the support including the step of heating the support and the small volumes; and cooling the support and the small volumes so as to solidify the small volumes in a spread and flattened condition on the support.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A process for creating a color transparency using an ink jet apparatus comprising the following steps: heating hot melt ink comprising an ink vehicle and a substantially translucent dye to a temperature above the melting point of said hot melt ink; ejecting small volumes of said hot melt ink from the ink jet apparatus toward a substantially transparent support, each said volume including a first substantially planar surface at its interface with said support, and a second surface opposed to said first surface extending outwardly from said support; cooling the small volumes to the solid state on the support; spreading and flattening said second surface of each of the small volumes on the support including the step of heating the support and the small volumes; and cooling the support and the small volumes so as to solidify the small volumes in a spread and flattened condition on the support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said support is characterized by a surface energy in excess of 25 dynes/cm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said support has a surface energy higher than the surface tension of the ink.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ink is at least partially translucent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ink comprises an at least partially translucent dye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the support comprises an acrylic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the support comprises an acrylate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claims 1, 6 or 7 wherein the support and the small volumes are heated from about 30 seconds to about 5 minutes at a temperature in excess of 70° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a protective coating to said support and small volumes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 9, wherein said application step comprises the steps of: providing another support; applying a hot melt adhesive to a surface of said other support; and laminating said other support to said support and the small volumes prior to said heating step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said hot melt adhesive comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of ethylene acrylic acid copolymer resin, polyamide resins, ethylene vinyl acetate resin, and polybutene resins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process according to claim 9, wherein said application step comprises the steps of: selecting a transparent coating having a predetermined index of refraction; applying said transparent coating to said cooled support and the small volumes; and drying said transparent coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 12, wherein said predetermined index of refraction comprises a range of from about 1.33 to about 1.70.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 12, wherein said application step comprises brushing said transparent coating upon said support and the small volumes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 12, wherein said application step comprises spraying said transparent coating upon said support and the small volumes by aerosol means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
167 words
A process for creating a color transparency using an ink jet apparatus comprising the following steps: heating hot melt ink comprising an ink vehicle and a substantially translucent dye to a temperature above the melting point of said ink in liquid form; ejecting small volumes of hot melt ink from the ink jet apparatus toward a substantially transparent support, each said volume including a first substantially planar surface at its interface with said support, and a second surface opposed to said first surface extending outwardly from said support; cooling the small volumes to the solid state on the support; and flattening a major portion of said second surface of each said small volumes upon said support, wherein said flattening step comprises the steps of: heating the support and the small volumes so as to spread and flatten the small volumes on the support; and cooling the support and the small volumes so as to solidify the small volumes in a spread and flattened condition on the support.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
167 words
A process for creating a color transparency using an ink jet apparatus comprising the following steps: heating hot melt ink comprising an ink vehicle and a substantially translucent dye to a temperature above the melting point of said ink in liquid form; ejecting small volumes of hot melt ink from the ink jet apparatus toward a substantially transparent support, each said volume including a first substantially planar surface at its interface with said support, and a second surface opposed to said first surface extending outwardly from said support; cooling the small volumes to the solid state on the support; and flattening a major portion of said second surface of each said small volumes upon said support, wherein said flattening step comprises the steps of: heating the support and the small volumes so as to spread and flatten the small volumes on the support; and cooling the support and the small volumes so as to solidify the small volumes in a spread and flattened condition on the support.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-01-30 | 1993-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-31 | 1997-01-30 | 1997-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-31 | 2001-01-30 | 2001-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |